mrwebb8825

On 5/12/2024 at 5:17 AM, andux said:

Some of the things I'm looking for:

 

* 1-2 hours from Bangkok

* English not widely spoken (I prefer full immersion, none to very few signs in English, etc.)

* Decent general ammenities like a few good places to eat, a gym or two, some coffee place

* Decent condos or apartments to rent/buy

 

I'm looking for something like Chanthaburi but smaller... Or like Phayao but closer to Bangkok and without the burning season 😁

 

Getting old and just want to chill, mostly. But I want to stay close to Bangkok for convenience (trips back home, the odd party night, etc.).

If you've got a car, I'd recommend driving the eastern and western edges of outer ring road - lots of little "burgs" and housing villages with local amenities. Spend a few weekends and see if something strikes your fancy.

No Economics Majors in here I see.

No, it makes no "cents" for the mom and pop shops as they would only earn around 500THB a year (assuming a 2000+ item turn around) but for the mass volume dealers like Tesco, BigC, etc. it generates millions in yearly revenue with no additional cash outlay.

It's the way of the future - there's also "Shrinkflation" in which your 5oz item for 5THB is now packaged at 4.5oz for 6THB.

Give this site a look (may need to dumb it down for the lecturers at the Tech Uni)

https://www.kanan.co/blog/sop-format/

15 hours ago, JontS said:

Interesting, I didn't know you get insurance that covered pre-existing conditions. Any idea what they cost?

click the links and ask. I've heard of coverage ranging from 40k-80k THB a year. Seems a better use of of the 3m-10m THB sitting in a Thai (or other) bank when you could die at any time. Eat, drink, party and be merry for you might not wake up tomorrow.

On 5/3/2024 at 8:25 AM, JontS said:

Planning a move to Thailand, most likely next year and it looks like health insurance is a complete waste of money, as almost every claim will be denied due to pre-existing condition, even if there is none. 

 

For those of you that self insure, what amount have you put aside?

 

Thanks, Jon

A 10 second google search:

https://www.axa.co.th/en/international-exclusive

https://www.thailand-health-insurance.com/coverage/pre-existing/

https://ten-pac.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-health-insurance-in-thailand/

etc. all cover pre-existing conditions and are in Thailand.

Thai service is not "abysmal", it's Thai. Get used to it.

When she visits, have her go to the bank and set up (install) their mobile app so if it ever happens again she can transfer it back using her phone. I do it all the time with my Thai phone.

58 minutes ago, RobertJNerder said:

@mrwebb8825, you said your wife and you bought it, but is your name on the Chanote?

It will be when we pay it off next year.

On 4/29/2024 at 10:46 PM, Chillypom said:

I’m an IT novice, please be gentle with me!

 

For the last couple a years I’ve purchased a TrueMove 12 month data SIM. Many variation available , mine was 100Gb/ month rated at 6Mps which I considered a reasonable deal at about 1,400 bht for 12 months service.

 

in practice download speed has been variable and often well below the stated 6Mps.

 

I’m due for a renewal and have heard the AIS and maybe Detac have more reliable speeds.

 

Does anyone have first hand experience of a well performing SIM?

 

Many TIA

Not sure how familiar you are with the TeleCom industry in general but in MOST cases, there was a single TeleCom group that laid and own the main cables that connect the world. In the states it's AT&T. In Thailand it's AIS.

Point is, I have both. I pay 62THB a month for my Thai phone and SIM (and can/do use it from states) It's always best to go with the original if you can IMHO.

A lot depends on 2 things; 1) Does the condo belong to a "group" that has a set by government Thai to Foreign Ownership percentage they must maintain? and 2) What kind of financing did the wife/gf get to purchase the condo?

My wife and I bought a condo under 1 or the government finance schemes but the hitch is "Thai Only" to qualify. We can add or transfer to, me when we've paid it off.

You disconnect at the feed then, stick your face in. If you can't breath then there's no air.

On 4/29/2024 at 12:09 AM, SpaceKadet said:

Simple. The seller will just increase the price.

Your grasp on economics is staggering.

13 hours ago, KhunLA said:

That new tax enforcement would eat up any gains ... 20% or more when bringing in.   Just 20% would bring it right back down to actually below where we are now:

43 - 20% = 34.4 

 

There's been NO mention of the new taxes having any affect on either SS or VA benefits from the US so your point doesn't fit in my situation.

wouldn't mind seeing 43THB - $1 again for a few weeks - give me time to refill my Thai bank accounts w/o much drain on my USD accounts.

wonder why he hasn't been charged with taking a job reserved for Thais?

13 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Stupid comment. Even the middle class is feeling the pinch with costs there.

all I did was offer an opinion on another poster's post. someone pee in your morning beer?

17 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You wonder if Thailand knows that Britons claim what?   There is a semi-colon after the phrase "in the frozen list".

I believe if you read it correctly, it lists examples of the countries as it states, "these include countries such as..." indicating that the heading; "Most British Commonwealth countries".

1 hour ago, herfiehandbag said:

If I was in the UK, I would receive an uprated Pension , Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Winter Fuel Allowance, free NHS treatment ( which in my case would be quite expensive), a Bus Pass and probably other benefits and allowances. It should easily double, and more, what I cost the state!

sounds like a compelling reason to move back home unless the tan hotties and sunshine outweigh the lack of freebies.

3 minutes ago, orchis said:

I think 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_state_pension

Damn! Ninja'd

Go down to the airport and look for Brits checking in to a flight heading for the UK.

OP - this is from the website listed below:

Guardian Visa (Type “Non-Immigrant O”)

Guardian visa is a visa for the parent / the father / the mother who applies to be the guardian of a student whose educational institution is in Thailand.

Adding to the Thai Child / Children with one or more foreign parentA foreign parent / foreign parents OR legal guardian MUST apply for the guardian visa issued by the Royal Embassy or Consulate of Thailand in any countries.

Their child / children must be under 20 years of age.

With required documents as follows:

Birth certificate of the child / children as a proof of relationship to that child / those children.

Admission letter and enrollment form as proof of the child’s / the children’s enrollment in schools in Thailand.

Deposit with the amount of 500,000 TH฿ or above OR an official certificate issued by Embassies / Consulates of Thailand concerned of his / her / their nationality or residence confirming that a parent / parents OR legal guardian merely obtain 500,000 TH฿ a year or above as his / her / their income, (current Thai exchange rate is available https://www.bot.or.th/English/Pages/default.aspx at the Bank of Thailand’s website), which will be later set up his / her / their Thai bank accounts.

https://www.starvisaservice.com/guardian-visa.html

They have a chat window as well where you can get information specific to your situation.

2 hours ago, Dirk Z said:

It's not about the quantity, I did not state that and there are plenty of families that are supported by a farang. It's the principle. 

According to your post, you waited too long to try and report online, the place was a LOT more crowded than usual, there were some 400 people ahead of you and you went an hour before lunch BUT, in the end, 1 of the officers seeing you were an elderly gentleman pulled you into his cubicle to take care of you personally.

Then you claim it felt like you were being harassed and thought YOU should have been treated better than all others doing the exact same thing because you support a Thai family. You sir, have strange (one-sided) principles.

Perhaps next time you should arrange to be carried in on a hand chariot with fair maidens tossing rose petals as the sea of humanity parts, genuflecting before you?

22 hours ago, Dirk Z said:

I am probably not the only one who feels that a little more gratitude and respect for those who bring money into the country and often support complete families is due.

Great post right up until the last line of pure arrogance.

Thailand/Gross domestic product

495.4 billion USD (2022)

Just give us a ballpark guess as to what percentage of the GDP YOU'VE brought in please.

Also, how many of Thailand's 71.1 million population (of which YOU don't account for) support "complete families"? Most of the Thai families I know support their parents as well as their children. Do you?

You don't want to do 90 day reports anymore, just pry open your personal safe and get an elite visa.